A post midnight confrontation early today at the Lakeview Inn of Sister Lakes has resulted in felonious assault charges against a Decatur man who refused to leave the establishment resulting in a call to police and weapons charges for the gun he brought to the fight.
Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reports that early this morning, at approximately 1:40 am, his Deputies were dispatched to the report of a felonious assault with a dangerous weapon at the popular night spot.
Deputies were advised by witnesses and staff at the Lakeview Inn that 26-year-old Alanzo Gasca from Decatur was asked to leave the establishment for acting out of control. When he would not leave the establishment on his own, he was forcibly removed.
Staff at the inn say that he then retrieved a loaded semi-automatic rifle from his vehicle and returned to the patio of the Lakeview, and pointed it at the person who had removed him. That person and bystanders managed to subdue Gasca and get the gun away from him. He was held down and the weapon was secured until law enforcement could arrive on the scene and restrain him.
Gasca was ultimately arrested for Felonious Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Possession of a Firearm while Intoxicated, Carrying a Dangerous Weapon with Unlawful Intent, and Possession of a Firearm while under the Influence. A report was forwarded to the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office for review.
Later today, Gasca was arraigned in the 7th District Court East at Paw Paw on the charges, and bond was set at $50,000 cash or surety.
The investigating Deputies on the scene included Deputy Greg Gunther, Deputy Justin Murphy, Deputy Ryan McFanin, and Deputy Tony Turner. They were assisted in the investigation by Pride Care EMS, the Pokagon Tribal Police Department, the Dowagiac Police Department, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
